Clerk killed in West Side gas station robbery

A man was killed in a West Side gas station in what appears to be a robbery, according to police. (Source: WGN - Chicago)

A man was killed in a West Side gas station in what appears to be a robbery, according to police. (Source: WGN - Chicago)

Peter Nickeas, Judy Wang and Rosemary R. Sobol

A clerk was shot and killed in a West Side gas station robbery about two hours before his shift was to end, according to police and the man's family.

Baker Farhat, of the 7800 block of South Rutherford Avenue in Burbank, was pronounced dead on the scene at 4:25 a.m. via telemetry from John H. Stroger Jr., Hospital of Cook County, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Farhat, in his 30s, was shot about 4:10 a.m. inside a Marathon gas station between Warren Avenue and Washington Boulevard on Homan Avenue, just across the street from Garfield Park.

Farhat was working in the food mart behind the counter when a gunman shot him in the head during a “stickup that went crazy,’’ authorities said.

According to a preliminary police report, a female witness told police that a gunman, who was with at least one other person, displayed a blue-steel semiautomatic pistol and demanded money from Farhat. Farhat gave the gunman money from the cash register and after saying, "I don't have anymore," was fatally shot in the head.

The gunman and at least one other person was seen getting into a white Chevrolet suburban truck which fled the scene.

A family member at the scene, who asked not to be identified, said Farhat's wife and three daughters - 2, 4 and 7 - lived in Jerusalem. He traveled there often to visit them, the relative said.

Farhat worked at the store for two years and was supposed to get off at 6 a.m., the relative said.

An employee said that when he left work Farhat was working in the gas station with another employee.

The employee said that the station was equipped with a surveillance camera but it was not known if the incident was captured on camera.